Imagine a recruitment process so flawed that only 39 out of 5,100 candidates pass a critical teaching exam, leaving over 1,600 positions unfilled. This is the shocking reality in Haryana, where the Public Service Commission’s (HPSC) selection for Post Graduate Teacher (Computer Science) roles has sparked outrage and confusion. But here’s where it gets even more baffling: HPSC has already advertised these unfilled positions again, even before wrapping up the current, controversial process. This unprecedented move has left everyone asking: Is this a genuine effort to fill vacancies, or a deliberate strategy to keep jobs out of reach?
The results, announced on February 5, have ignited a firestorm of criticism from opposition leaders and candidates alike. Many are questioning the fairness and intent behind HPSC’s evaluation process. And this is the part most people miss: This isn’t the first time HPSC has faced such scrutiny. In December 2025, a similar debacle occurred when only 151 candidates qualified for interviews out of 613 advertised assistant professor (English) positions. Are these isolated incidents, or part of a larger systemic issue?
Congress MLA Randeep Singh Surjewala didn’t hold back, calling the outcome a “cruel joke” on young aspirants. “A process that began in 2019 has taken seven years to yield just 39 eligible candidates for 1,711 posts. This screams either gross incompetence or a deliberate attempt to sabotage youth employment,” he stated. INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala went further, labeling it a “systematic conspiracy” to deny jobs. He pointed out that candidates who have excelled in universities and cleared national exams like UGC NET are being deemed unfit by HPSC. Is the system truly broken, or is there something more sinister at play?
The saga began in 2019 when the Haryana Staff Selection Commission advertised 1,711 PGT Computer Science posts—1,633 for the general Haryana cadre and 78 for the Mewat cadre. After the government shifted all PGT selections to HPSC, the commission re-advertised these roles in 2023. The breakdown included 859 General category posts, 327 for Scheduled Castes, 163 for BC-A, 82 for BC-B, and 163 for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the Haryana cadre. For Mewat, it was 43 General, 15 SC, 8 BC-A, 4 BC-B, and 8 EWS. However, the new advertisement lacks the mandatory sub-classification of SC posts into Deprived Scheduled Caste (DSC) and Other Scheduled Caste (OSC), with officials promising to address it later. Why is this critical detail being overlooked, and what does it mean for candidates?
Adding to the controversy, the same 35% qualifying criterion that led to just 39 candidates passing the previous exam has been retained. Even more puzzling, the advertisement states that even if more than double the number of candidates qualify, only twice the advertised vacancies will be called for interviews. Is this a fair approach, or a recipe for continued failure?
Take the case of a high-achieving student whose mother shared her frustration: “My daughter consistently scored first division throughout her academic career but couldn’t meet HPSC’s 35% threshold. She cleared HTET and has always been a topper, yet HPSC says she’s not qualified. What kind of system dismisses such talent?” Similarly, Manika Ahuja, a double gold medallist with Bachelor’s, Master’s, LLB, and LLM degrees from Panjab University, failed HPSC’s written test for assistant professor (English) in December. How can top performers be deemed unfit for roles they’re clearly qualified for?
Ahuja demanded a third-party evaluation of answer sheets and a revision of results. “It’s deeply troubling when candidates who’ve excelled throughout their education are deemed incapable of securing government jobs. HPSC must ensure that at least double the number of advertised posts are called for interviews,” she urged. But HPSC Secretary Mukesh Ahuja defended the process, stating that the commission has successfully filled vacancies in most subjects. He admitted challenges only in assistant professor (English) and PGT (Computer Science) roles, attributing the low pass rates to the elimination-based nature of recruitment exams. But is this explanation enough to justify such drastic outcomes?
Ahuja explained that while university exams are qualification-based, recruitment tests are designed to eliminate candidates step-by-step, assessing not just knowledge but aptitude, problem-solving, speed, and decision-making under pressure. Regarding the computer science exam, candidates complained about its difficulty and questions outside the syllabus. An expert panel confirmed one out of 15 questions was indeed outside the syllabus, leading HPSC to award marks out of 140 instead of 150. Does this address the root of the problem, or merely scratch the surface?
After the results, only 39 candidates scored above 35%. HPSC’s decision to re-advertise 1,672 posts has left many wondering if this will solve the issue or perpetuate the cycle. What do you think? Is HPSC’s approach fair, or does it need a complete overhaul? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
